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+--- Thread: TowBoatUS Rochester NY Re-Opens (/showthread.php?tid=637558)
TowBoatUS Rochester NY Re-Opens - FishNews - 01-16-2011
ROCHESTER, NY - TowBoatUS Rochester, NY, the on-the-water towing company that helps boaters and anglers get safely home when breakdowns occur, is under new ownership. Capt. Jake Van Reenen is now at the helm. Local boaters may recognize the name: Van Reenen's family owns the Rochester-based Van Reenen Tool & Die, where Jake still works on a part-time basis.
"I want to show area boaters that I can provide reliable service 24-hours a day, and get them safely back to launch ramps or marinas," said Capt. Van Reenen.
Boating is a part of the Van Reenen family DNA, which has been cruising area waters as well as in the Thousand Islands "since I was born," said Jake, who is US Coast Guard licensed and resides year round aboard his 43-foot Albin trawler on the Genesee River. His father and brother also live aboard their own vessels.
Recreational boaters and anglers can call the on-the-water towing company 24-hours a day at 585-797-9847, through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869, or by hailing on VHF radio channel 16. Like an auto club, BoatUS offers "Unlimited" on-the-water towing plans for freshwater boaters and anglers for just $58 a year which includes BoatUS membership. Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident.
"Most of the reasons why boaters call us for assistance is when they have an engine breakdown and need to get home," added Capt. Van Reenen.
TowBoatUS Rochester is located at Voyager Boat Sales inside the Genesee River Inlet and offers a 25-mile service area. To see the location on a map, go to the Member Services Locator at BoatUS.com. Stationed at the location is a 20-foot Shamrock response vessel, ready to go at a moment's notice and fully rigged for marine towing and salvage work, including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, and battery "jump packs" to handle dead batteries. Dive gear is also available. The towboat can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and "TowBoatU.S." lettering along its sides.
All of the towing ports are part of the country's largest boat towing program, BoatUS Towing Services, with over 600 towboats servicing hundreds of ports and waterways coast to coast. The towing program is just one service offered by BoatUS - Boat Owners Association of The United States - the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its half-million members with government representation, consumer programs and money-saving services. For more information go to www.BoatUS.com/towing.